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(C) RashiYomi Incorporated, 2001
Written by Dr Russell Jay Hendel
Volume 9 Number 9
Produced Feb 22, 2001
WARNING: USE FIX WIDTH FONTS (eg COURIER (NEW) 10)
Verses/Topics Discussed in This Issue with quicky explanations
NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW
NEW NEW
NEW Dr Boncheck Meets Dr Hendel NEW
NEW NEW
NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW
Dr Boncheck Series
==================
v9-2-22a
Rabbi Dr Boncheck made some insightful points
about Rashis use of word order. This corresponds to
the difference between the past (eg DID) and past
perfect (eg HAD DONE).
READER QUESTIONS
================
v9-2-22a
RUTH SHANE made some further insightful arguments
on the principle of the PAST PERFECT vs the PAST
which prompted a reformulation of this rule
We review several previous postings including an
answer to Shmuel Tarshis on a Rashi-IbnEzra-Rmbn
controversy.
Lv21-15a
AARON BITMAN from my Shomrey Emunah class had
asked me several times during the year if I could
provide examples of where >VAV< meant something
besides >AND< (It is well known that >VAV< can
equally mean >AND< >OR< etc). Today we show
examples where >VAV< means >LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
This is a peach of a Rashi since several fundamental
principles of teaching Rashi emerge.
WEEKLY PARSHAH SERIES
=====================
v9-2-22a
For more Rashis on this weeks Parshah visit
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/parshah.htm
In particular note the following posting:
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ex24-01a.htm
shows how the principle mentioned by Rabbi Dr
Boncheck when applied consistently defends
Rashis views vs the rambans on the deviation
of the Torah from chronological order.
Rashis covered in this issue
----------------------------
VERSE RULE BRIEF DESCRIPTION
======== =============== ===================================
Lv21-15a SPECIAL WORDS >VAV< can mean >LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
Ex28-35a SPECIAL WORDS >VAV< can mean >LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
Ex30-20a SPECIAL WORDS >VAV< can mean >LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
Lv08-35a SPECIAL WORDS >VAV< can mean >LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
Lv10-06b SPECIAL WORDS >VAV< can mean >LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
Lv16-02b SPECIAL WORDS >VAV< can mean >LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
Lv16-13b SPECIAL WORDS >VAV< can mean >LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
Lv21-15a SPECIAL WORDS >VAV< can mean >LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
Nu18-32a SPECIAL WORDS >VAV< can mean >LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
Nu18-32b SPECIAL WORDS >VAV< can mean >LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
-----------------------------------------------------------------
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#
RASHI IS SIMPLE
GOALS: To grammatically defend all 8000 Rashis on Chumash.
METHOD:Rashis are defended with LISTS of comparable cases
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Laymen, Academicians, Yeshiva world
COMMENTS,QUESTIONS: EMail to address below
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:If you want to ask anonymously please ask
(UN)SUBSCRIBE: Email to addresses below with "(UN)subscribe"
JOURNAL REFERENCE: Pshat & Drash,TRADITION, Win 1980,R Hendel
NOTATION: eg Gn01-02a refers to Rashi "a" on Genesis 1:2
SPECIALS:...on Parshah,Rambam,Ramban,Pedagogy,Symbolism
RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RULES Complete set of rules on bottom
EMAIL: RJHendel@Juno.Com, rashi-is-simple@shamash.org,
WEB: http://www.RashiYomi.Com/
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VERSE: Lv21-15a
RASHIS COVERED: Ex28-35a Ex30-20a Lv08-35a Lv10-06b Lv16-02b
Lv16-13b Lv21-15a Nu18-32a Nu18-32b
RULE:
=====
The Hebrew letter >VAV< usually means >AND< when
prefixed to a word. However it can also mean
>OR< and in general it can refer to >ANY
BOOLEAN LOGICAL CONNECTIVE<.
We present examples below where >VAV< followed by >NO<
(that is, >AND NOT< ) means >LEST< or
>OTHERWISE<. Another way of perceiving this rule is
that >VAV NOT< should be translated as >IF NOT< (ie
OTHERWISE).
A SIMPLE EXAMPLE
================
Dt18-10 >Please dont let us see Gods Great Fire
Visions anymore, LEST we die<
The verse had literally said >Please dont let us
see Gods Great Fire visions anymore AND we will NOT
die<.
The translation >LEST< we die, is punchier and
captures nuances better.
COMMMENT
========
Before proceeding to a LIST of all examples
We make 6 powerful comments on Rashi methodology.
1) # VERSES, # PRINCIPLES, # RASHIS
===================================
What a beautiful Rashi. There are about 2 dozen verses
in the Bible with the phrase >AND(VAV) he will NOT die<.
In 50% of them---in 9 verses--Rashi translates >VAV NOT<
as >LEST<. The reader (you!) is then invited to
apply this principle to the other verses with >VAV<
This is typical of rashi. He will explain some examples
and let the reader fill in the rest thus showing mastery
of principles.
2) RASHI USES WORKBOOK METHODS
==============================
Rashi uses what pedagogists call, WORKBOOK methods.
Rashi does a few examples thoroughly and then lets
the student derive similar examples themselves.
3) WHERE DID RASHI COMMENT
==========================
Although there are 20 verses where >AND NOT< means
>LEST< or >OTHERWISE< rashi did not comment on all of them
Rashi commented that >AND NOT< means >LEST< in those 9
verses where they are talking about punishment of death
at the hand of heaven. In the other verses >AND< can
mean >OTHERWISE<. (It can also mean >LEST he die< in
the physical (not punishment sense of the word).)
4) RASHI AVOIDED THE OBVIOUS
============================
Rashi for example did not comment that >AND NOT< means
>LEST< in Lv10-09 since he had just commented this
in Lv10-06b, 3 verses earlier. There are other
reasons Rashi avoided explanations but this will
suffice for now.
5) >AND NOT< vs >OTHERWISE<
===========================
One can ask are we really OBLIGATED to translate these
verses as >LEST<. Couldnt we just translate them as >AND NOT<
The answer is simple. Take a verse like Dt18-16 >Please dont
let us see Gods Great Fire Visions LEST we die<
We could translate this as >AND we WONT die<. However the whole
purpose of using >OTHERWISE< or >LESS< is when a contrast
occurs. And that is exactly what happens here. If they do see
Gods Great Fire visions then they will die; by contrast if
they dont see it they wont die. Hence the word >LEST< should
be used.
6)My TRADITION article on PSHAT & DRASH: TRADITION WINTER 1980
==============================================================
In my Tradition article I advocate that the challenge in
intepreting Rashi is not so much finding Rashis Rule, or
Problem but rather the issue is finding a translation with
the right nuances---a translation which spontaneously suggests
the intepretations of Chazal. In this case the translation
>OTHERWISE< or >LEST< precisely captures the nuances of >AND NOT<
By using words with catchy nuances (LEST and OTHERWISE) I have
been able to avoid some of the logical intricacies of some
of the Rashi commentators like Sifsay Chachamim.
EXAMPLES
========
--------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses >AND NOT< is better translated
as >LEST<. Footnotes provide more details
--------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE-->AND NOT< is translated as >LEST<
======== =================================================
Ex28-35a Wear the bell-robe---let it ring--- >LEST< he die*1
Ex30-20a On coming to the Temple they will wash-- >LEST< they die
Lv08-35a Sit & Watch by the Temple tent 7 days --- >LEST< you die
Lv10-06b Dont let your hair grow >LEST< you die *2
Lv16-02b Dont come to the inner temple >LEST< you die *3
Lv16-13b He'll place the Incense on the fire .... >LEST< he die *3
Lv21-15a He shouldnt marry widows...>LEST< he defile the children
Nu18-32a Give 10%of your tithe to the Priest >LEST< you be in sin
Nu18-32b Dont desecrate the temple gifts >LEST< you die
NOTES
=====
*1 This verse occurs at the end of several paragraph dealing with
the priestly garments. This particular paragraph deals with
the sky blue bell-robe. The verse says >Aaron shall wear the
bell robe so that he will be heard when he enters to serve
God as OTHERWISE he will die<
Rashi then generalizes this verse to refer to all the other
priestly garments. >If Aaron wasnt wearing any of them
he would incur a death penalty at the hands of heaven<
*2 Aaron had just lost his two sons on a national holiday.
He was told not to let his hair grow from which we infer
that mourners may not take haircuts (the Exception was
made for Aaron--in contrast to mourners he was not allowed
to let his hair grow-- because of the national holiday--his
mourning should not intefer with the nations holiday).
*3 We discussed these two verses in more detail last week in
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h9n8.htm. The gist of what we
said is that verse 2 should be translated with >KI< meaning
>RATHER<
>Aaron should not come at any time to the temple LEST he die;
RATHER I (God) will be seen when there is a cloud <
Verse 13 then complements verse 2 as follows
>And he shall put the Ketoreth on the fire before God and
the cloud OF KETORETH will cover the Kaporeth as OTHERWISE
he will die<
So the two verses say one and the same thing:
* There is a death penalty for wantonly entering the temple
* EXCEPT on Yom Kippur; Aaron can enter the inner temple
if he brings the Ketoreth cloud with him
One further point made by Rashi focuses on the repeated
verse: >WITH A CLOUD OF KETORETH I WILL APPEAR<. This
concept is repeated in verse 2 and verse 13. In accordance
with the principle used throughout Leviticus that repeated
verses indicate essentiality Rashi states
>In order to escape a death penalty at the hands of heaven
Aaron must not only bring in the Ketoreth cloud but must
make the ketoreth cloud with ALL its procedures. If ANY
of the procedures were missing he would incure the death
penalty<
--------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses >AND NOT< is better translated
as >LEST< In these verses Rashi did not comment but
rather let the reader (you!) use WORKBOOK methods
The reader is invited to check the Biblical paragraphs
out for futher details
--------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE-->AND NOT< is translated as >LEST<
======= =================================================
Dt18-16 We dont want to see Gods big Fire visions >LEST< we die
Nu35-12 Accidental murderers will receive asylum >LEST< they die
Nu17-25 Place the symbol so they wont complain>LEST< they die
Nu18-03 They may not enter the temple >LEST< they die
Lv10-09 Dont drink wine when you enter the temple >LEST< you die
Lv15-31 Warn the Jews about their ritual impurity >LEST< they die
--------------------------------------------------------
In the following verses >AND NOT< is better translated
as >OTHERWISE< In these verses Rashi did not comment but
rather let the reader (you!) use WORKBOOK methods
The reader is invited to check the Biblical paragraphs
out for futher details
--------------------------------------------------------
VERSE TEXT OF VERSE-->AND NOT< is translated as >OTHERWISE<
======= ======================================================
Gn42-02 Get food from Egypt ... >OTHERWISE< we will die
Gn42-20 Bring your brother with you...>OTHERWISE< you will die
Gn43-08 Send Binyamin with me; >OTHERWISE< we will die
Gn47-19 Give us grain to plant; >OTHERWISE< we will die
Nu04-19 Let them do this;IF yes theyll live;OTHERWISE theyll die
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
================
To Aaron Bitman from my Shomrey Emunah Rashi class for
asking for clear examples of verses where >VAV< means
something other than >AND<. In the above verses it means
>LEST< or >OTHERWISE<
RASHI RULE USED: SPECIAL WORDS
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
VERSE: v9-2-22a
While Rabbi Dr Boncheck was visiting the U.S. he gave 3 lectures
at Shomrey Emunah. On one of them he suggested that
>Word order can indicate emphasis; this is an important
Rashi principle<
The example Rabbi Boncheck gave was from Gn25-34. Esauv had
come in from hunting exhausted. Jacob feeds him and comments
how Esauv is leading a hunting life while Jacob is leading
a contemplative life. Therefore it would make more sense for
Jacob to assume the priestly obligations of the elder. Esauv
agrees and sells Jacob his birthright.
The story is simple and innocuous. Yet the obvious gesture of
Jacob to feed Esauv is mentioned at the end of the story.The
actual Hebrew text says
>ANd Jacob >HAD FED< Esauv (Before their conversation on
the birthright); Esauv ate and drank got up and went back
despising the birthright<
The crucial point is that by using the past perfect, >HAD FED<
vs the past >FED< the verse emphasizes that Jacob immediately
gave Esauv food. If the Bible had not used the past perfect
then I would have thought that Jacob blackmailed Esauv--for
the story would then read >Jacob gave Esauv food AFTER the
conversation and AFTER he sold his birthright<.
Thus the use of the past perfect -- >HAD FED< -- clarifies
that the food had already been given immediately.
Someone (besides me) came up to Rabbi Dr Boncheck after
Shiur and pointed out that this was more a principle of
grammar than a principle of word order. Rabbi Boncheck
nodded. The technicality is that to indicate the past
we use the >FUTURE+OVERTURNING VAV< (eg >VaYiTayN< means
he gave). By contrast the >ORDINARY PAST< (eg >NATHAN<)
means he >HAD GIVEN<. (Notice you dont even need a subject)
I then mentioned to Rabbi Dr Boncheck that Rashi CONSISTENTLY
used this principle and Rashi differs from other rishonim
in his CONSISTENT PERPETUAL use of this principle. I
pointed out that the famous Rashi-Ramban controversy
on whether the Torah uses chronological order or conceptual
order can be settled in Rashis favor once we realize that
Rashi deviates from chronological order if there is some
indicator such as the past perfect. Thus Ex24-01a says
>And God HAD SPOKEN to Moses...< thus indicating that
the rest of Exodus (From Chapter 24 thru the sin of the
golden calf) happened BEFORE. This defends Rashi over
the Ramban.
In passing, I first heard the above defense of Rashi on
Gn25-34 when I was in 8th grade from my 8th grade teacher
Rabbi Nathan Belitsky may he rest in peace.
This principle is presented in the Rashi website at
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ex24-01a.htm. Examples are
presented below. The rule given is as follows
RULE: In Biblical Hebrew there are 2 ways to indicate the past
>VAV+FUTURE--(eg VAYOMER)--this means HE SPOKE
>PAST--------(eg AMAR---)--this means HE HAD SPOKEN
Below we show some examples of these interpretations.
Ruth Shane from my Shomrey Emunah class pointed out that
the principle as formulated is inaccurate. After some
conversation I re-suggested the following
RULE: In Biblical Hebrew there are 2 ways to indicate the past
>PAST--------(eg AMAR---)--this means HE HAD SPOKEN
>VAV+FUTURE--(eg VAYOMER)--CONTINUES the point of
time you are presently in.
So if you are in the
past it continues it. But if you are in the PAST
PERFECT then the VAV+FUTURE continues that period.
The emphasis is on >CONTINUATION<
EXAMPLE: Gn04-01 says >AND ADAM HAD KNOWN HIS WIFE<
indicating that they Kain was conceived in Gan Eden
before the expulsion.
The verse continues--->and Adam HAD KNOWN his wife
and she CONCEIVED and she gave BIRTH to Kain<
Clearly the other past tenses refer to the PAST
PERFECT also (that is she was KNOWN, CONCEIVED
and gave BIRTH all at the same time).
But the >VAV+FUTURE< is only used the first time
while the other verbs use a simple past. Thus
we see that the simple past doesnt mean PAST
or PAST PERFECT but rather CONTINUES the point
of time we were in.
Here are the examples from http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ex24-01a.htm
For another stimulating example see my response to Shmuel
Tarshis' question in http://www.RashiYomi.Com/h5n10.htm
EXAMPLES:
--------
(1) "And Adam HAD KNOWN his wife"
RASHI: She had ALREADY given birth before the expulsion
from Gan eden
(2) "And God HAD ALREADY given grace to the Jews"
RASHI: So the Jews had already loaned utensils from
the Egyptians--and now they were loaning again
(3) "And God had already spoken to Moses"
RASHI: So this Chapter was said before the
prior chapters (The 10 commandments).
(4) "And the earth had been formless and void"
MIDRASH RABBAH: God had created many worlds
before he came to this one.
Rashi at times explains that the "HAD ALREADY DONE"
form is sometimes used to juxtapose 2 chapters to suggest
causal connections. Details are given in the postings.
---------------------------------------------------
WARNING: The following additional references may be too wordy
However they frequently contain additional information & lists
The hyperlinks only work on the main website
Volume 4 Number 13
Volume 5 Number 7
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
THE 2 DOZEN RASHI-IS-SIMPLE RASHI RULES
=======================================
I: RASHI gives MEANING
======================
A: NEW MEANINGS--(eg)"on the face of"=during the lifetime
Volume 2 Number 9, http://www.rashiyomi.Com/Nu04-04a.htm
B: SPECIAL WORDS--(eg)ACH=USUALLY;USUALLY observe shabbath!
Rashi Yomi Summaries,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ach-6.htm
C: SYNONYMS--(eg)AMR=to speak; DBR=to cite or to quote;
Volume 2 Number 1, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Lv20-02a.htm
D: WORD MEANINGS-Thermos(TzNTzNTh)=doubly(TZN TZN) Cold(TZN)
Volume 1 Number 9,23,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex31-15a.htm
E: UNIFIED MEANINGS-PAAM=Repeated action:To Ring,Hammer,Step
Volume 1 Number 3,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn41-08a.htm
II: RASHI teaches GRAMMAR/STYLE
===============================
F: CLASSICAL GRAMMAR--(eg)QUESTION = HEY+CHATAF PATACH
Volume 3 Number 22,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn04-09z.htm
G: USAGE(NEW GRAMMAR)--(eg)INFINITIVE="be involved in";
Volume 5 Number 24,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex13-03a.htm
H: ROOT+PREPOSITION--(eg)ChZK B="to hold";ChZK M="overpower"
Volume 1 Number 7,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex04-04a.htm
I: THE SENTENCE--2 verses can make 1 sentence-eg Dt02-16:17
Volume 3 Number 7,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt19-06a.htm
J: STYLE--REPETITION denotes Endearment;eg 'Jacob Jacob'
Volume 1 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Gn46-02a.htm
K: DOUBLE NOUNS--(eg)"GIVE GIVE";if not CHARITY then LOAN
Double Noun page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/DN.htm
L: PRONOUNS-(eg)IMCHAH=with you; ITCHAH=Accompanying you;
Volume 3 Number 13,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Ex22-24c.htm
III: OVERALL TEXTUAL STRUCTURE
==============================
M: OTHER VERSES--Aaron SAW(Ex32-05)...the brawl(Ex32-18)
OTHER VERSE page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/ov.htm
N: EXTRA SENTENCES-eg[GIVE HIM][WHAT HE NEEDS](Not if rich)
Volume 2 Number 20,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt15-08c.htm
O: DOUBLE PARSHAS-'he WILL pray'-'he WON'T pray';So Optional
Volume 3 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt24-14a.htm
P: CLIMAX-(eg Dt19-11)(a)Hate, (b)spy, (c)confront,(d)Murder
Climax Page, http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Climax.htm
Q: OVERALL STRUCTURE-growing nails=despisement(from context)
Volume 3 Number 8,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt21-11a.htm
R: SPREADSHEETS-What is the marriage loophole in inheritance
Volume 2 Number 23,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Nu36-03a.htm
IV: BEYOND THE TEXT
===================
S: MORAL LESSONS/REASONS-God explains BEFORE punishing;
Volume 2 Number 12,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Nu12-09a.htm
T: RabbiIshmael-(eg)"When an OX gores";(Or ANY animal gores)
Volume 4 Number 21,http://www.RashiYomi.Com/Dt25-04a.htm
End of Rashi-Is-Simple Digest
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 2001 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*